MYSTERY IS SOLVED!

My friend has lived in the UK for 15 years and had a passport from France and also a British one at the time of the application of his wife. But he was not officially a british citizen and only just had that ceremony a few years ago.

He told me he applied for spouse visa, but then got the dependent stamped, but I guess as he was not offically a british citizen but one from Europe they gave the dependent visa which they would give for somebody who is not British but european or a skilled migrant worker to bring their spouse.

Confusing but I believe this is what happened.. they got the dependent visa due to him being originally French and not having officially become British.

So you learn something new. If you are from an EC country or possibly even outside you can apply for a dependent visa for your filipino spouse and you do not have to apply for a Spouse visa!